Electric switch



Nov. 8, 1927. 1,648,385

B. E. GETCHELL ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 4, 1925 INVENTOR Benjamin E. Ge chel],

Patented Nov. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

BENJAMIN E. GETCHELL, F PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE TRUMBULL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT, A COR- ELECTRIC SVIITCH.

Application filed April 4, 1925. Serial No. 20,611.

Myipinvention relates particularly to the construction and relative arrangen'icntol' the contact elements of a switch of that tvpc having a pivoted switch member and a iela- .3 tively stationary switch member.

The main object is to provide a construe Y Liv'il which is reliable and uniform in its action. 7

Another object isto construct the parts so that the movement of the hinged or pivoted mum of friction.

Another object is to providea construction of the sliding butt type in which the currentcarrying surfaces are well separated from the circuit-breaking pointsa'nd in which the contact surfaces come together with a wiping movement rather /-than a rolling movement, as is, usual in butt contact switches.

Another object is to provide a butt contact switch in which the tl'irust -or pressure between the contacts is taken up by the pivot and the hinged member'rather than against the operatin r means.

Another 0 ject is to provide an extended Contact bearing under'variou's conditions of assembly. 1

Anot er objectvis to provide a self adjusting, ful and positive electric connection to the switch arm. 7

Fig. 1 is a side view of a switch embody ing llIIPI'OVGlHQHtSOfHXy invention, inthe open circuit position but showing in dotted lines the closed circuit position ofthe contacts.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the'hinged contact member on the plane of the line22 of Fig. 1. L

Fig. 3 is a side view and partial section on an enlarged Qscal showing the relatively stationary contact member.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the .parts of the relatively statioi'iary' co'ntact member shown separated.

Fig. 5 is a plan view and section on the plane of the line 5#5 of Fig. 3. a

The member 7 of the switch preferably formed of two side plates or blades is hinged on the pivot pin 8 between the sides of the yoke 9 which is secured to the insulating base 10 in any suitable manner, as, for in,

the edge which strikes the contact 18 so that stance, by a screw 11. The contact end 12 :is secured between the side plates of the anru T in. any suitable manner, as, for in:

stance, h v means of a rivet 13. In order to maintain a uniform frictional resistance to movement of the switch arm 7, I provide a. spring 14 which is mounted on the rivet H and presses the side plates of the arm 7 out against the arms of the yoke 5). it is possibie in this way to secure a practically constant pressure between the arm 7 and the ygleet). A spring 15 is also preferably proswitch member is accomplished with a mini vided for the purpose of tending to open the switch or holding it in the position shown in Fig. 1. A sleeve 16 may be interposed between the springs 14-and15 to prevent interference. The arm? provided with shoilders 17 which eo-act with the upper ends of the yoke 9 so as to limit the opening movement of the switch arm 7 to the position shown in Fig. l.

A relatively stationary element 18 is pro vided with a pin 1!) which projects freely through an opening in the support 20 and has on it a spring 21 and washer 22 for holding it yieldingly in position. The support may be mounted in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by means of the screw 23. This contact has a circuit terminal 24. The lower edge of the contact member 18 is provided with a projecting boss 25. \Vhen the switch arm 7 is moved into the closed circuit position, it presses the contact"18 into the posit-ion shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, the lug or boss 25 serving as the pivotal point. The spring 21, of course, exerts its pull on the contact and the point of contact with the arm 7. This boss 25 being located in the approximate center in the lower edge of the contact 18, serves as a pivotal point about which the contact may twist side-ways to a slight extent so as to permit the contact to adapt itself to the shape and position of the tip 12 of the contact arnn This insure-s an extended line or surface of contact rather point contact which would occur it the li'K'Hrher 18 were not permitted. to twist. 'In order to provide an ample and perfect electrical connection between the contact 18 and the terminal 24, I may provide a flexible brush or strap connector 26 which may be formed of one or more layers of The contact tip is preferably rounded on when the tip is leaving the contact 18 in the 18 at a point between the bossthan a course, be operated in any suitable manner.

have shown herein a thermostatic and toggle action mechanism which is the sub'ect of a co-pending application. The hinge operating member 27 is adapted to be operatrd manually and is connected to the switch arm 7 by toggle links 28 and 29, which are adapted to be automatically released by the warping of a thermostatic element 30, which is connected between the circuit terminal 31 and the yoke 9. As switches of this type are intended to open-the circuit automatically 'under predetermined conditions, it is highly desirable that the resistance to movement remain substantially constant and unvarying. This particular construction of switch elements is, therefore. peculiarly adapted to such switches since the pressure of the'contacts upon each other is invariable and the frictional resistance of the movable parts remain substantially constant.

I claim: I

1. In an electric switch, a hinge post having spaced jaws. a pair of blades pivotally mounted on said post between said jaws, a spring located bet-wen said blades for pressing said blades into electrical engagement with said jaws, and a second spring surrounding the first spring for moving said blades.

2. In an electric switch, a substantially U-shaped supporting post having side jaws, a contact arm having blades mounted between said jaws, a pivot pin passing through said blades and jaws. a spring mounted on said pin and holding said blades in engagement with said jaws. a sleeve surrounding said spring, and a' blade-operating spring surrounding said sleeve.

3. In an electric switch, a bracket, an anchorage therefor, 21 contact arm, a spring holding said arm in engagement Willi said twist in a direction at substantially right angles thereto.

4. In an electric switch, a support having an opening, a'jcoutact arm having a contact. portion at one end and a boss at the center of its opposite end engaging said support, said arm also having an intermediate portion nor-- mally engaging said support, a pin connected to said arm and passing through the opening of said support, and a springon said pin for pressing said arm into engagement with sai support, said arm being adapted to have a swinging movement with respect to said support and also a. sidewise twisting movement on said boss.

5. In an electric switch, stationary jaws, switch blades mounted between said jaws and spaced apart from each other. a rivet passing through said blades and jaws, a

spring on said rivet between said blades. a. contact member having a shank mounted between said blades, :1 rivet passing through said blades and shank for securing said contact member in place. and another rivetconnecting said bladcs between the contact member and said pin.

6. In an electric switch, a hinged switch member, a support, a contact member having a centrally disposed boss engaging said sup port, a pin projecting through said support, and a spring mounted on said pin for yieldingly holding said contact in position but permitting it to tilt and twist when engaged by saidcontact member.

7. In an electrical switch, pivoted switch blade and a contact to co-act with said blade,

thesaidcontactincluding a base member. a yielding switch contact member, a flexible conducting member for connecting said contact member with mid base nicn'ibcr, a rocking point support for said contactmember and spring means for holding said contact member in engagement with said rocking point support.

BENJAMIN E. G E'lCHllLL.

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